Mining machine



March 27, 1928.

I P. UPHAM mums momma Filed July 26, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invewio 1": Preston Uphwm March 27, 1928.

P. UPHAM MINING MACHINE Invewi/o Pres ion Upham, 33 M, v

P. UPHAM MINING MACHINE Filed July 26, 1916 March 27, 1928.

3 Sheets-Sheet Inventor.- Presifon Upham,

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

* UNITED ST TES PRESTON UPHAM, OF BOSTON,

COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed July 26,

This invention pertains to mining machines and more particularly, though not exclusively, to coal mining machines em loying movable cutting devices adapted to e pre-. sented to the coal to cut a kerf or channel therein.

The inventionwill be best understood by reference to the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which description and drawings relate to a preferred construction of one specific embodiment of my invention, while the scope of my invention is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan ofa machine constituting one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 isa side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is 'a vertical, longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. and 5 are vertical, transverse, sectional elevations thereof on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1';

Fig. 6'is a vertical section, showing a detail of the tilting or elevating mechanism; and, Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating the various operations, of the -machine when engaged in entry cutting.

While my invention is by no means restricted to feeding, guiding and positioning mechanism, it pertains largely thereto, and for this reason I have shown my feeding and positioning mechanism, system and connections asused with a preferred type of chain cutter machineheretofore largely used for cutting coal while sliding on the mine bottom and'while being fed, guided, and positioned by flexible tension members in a man ner which may resemble somewhat the mechanism of the patent to Mitchell, No.

656,414, and the mechanism shown in the patent of Jacob M. London, No.-1,635,488,

grantod July12,1927. I

Among the purposes ofthe. present invention is to promote the'more rapid driving of entries in coal mines. The mostefiicient method of driving such entries "heretofore used has been to undercut the entry as shown in the London application, and then to blast down the coal. The safety. laws preventthe use of explosives while miners other than shot firersa re in'the mine. The blasting operations usually take place but once a day,

comprising in guides 1916. Serial No. 111,523.

thus limiting the advance inany one entryto one undercut per day. By the use of the preferred embodiment of my invention herein described, several intersecting kerfs can be cut in the heading of the entry, thereby so weakening the structure of the coal that it can'be removed without blasting or with a' minimum of blasting. This system is to be differentiated from the various machines which are intended to disintegrate all the coal in the heading, for such systems necessarily involve much unnecessary breaking up of the coal, with consequent loss of value of. the product and with resultant slowness ofv operation. The present disclosure should the'main body 40f the machine to which'the cutter bar 2 is preferably rigidly attached. The main body 4 of the machine preferably contains a motor of any suitable form but preferably pressure fluid or electric, and connections from the motor to drive'the cutter chain 2 and the flexible positioning means (not shown) which may, if desired,be substantially identical with that shown in the application of Jacob London before mentioned. V

I prefer. to mount the machine on a truck, the wheels 5 and thebody per-- tion 6, relativeto which the machine 4 is preferably contacting with the longitudinally movable guiding element'8.

To provide for swinging cutting movement.

longitudinally slidably movable 7 forming part of the frame 6, and

of thecutter bar 2 I preferably employ a} turntable 9, operatively interposed between the main body 4 of the machine and the longitudinally movable guiding element 8.

' This turntable is preferably adapted to permit-swinging movement of the cutter bar 2 only in the plane of saidcutterbar.

The machine, in so far asalready described, is adapted to perform only those operations, which could be performed by the pivotal support during the operation of the machine should be ali ned with. the line of longitudinal feeding'movement of the machine. It is clear that when the turntable 9 with the superimposed mechanism is tipped about this axis of the transverse pivotal sup-' port 11 the machine may be advanced'to cut a lrerf into the work in anyone of a plurality of different anglesrelative to the horizontal while keeping the cutter bar in a planeflduring the cutting of any one of such kerfs, To provide for the cutting of kerfs inclined either to the right or to the left, and to avoid the necessity for more than one pivot, I preferably provide a supplementary turntable 12, operatively interposed between the longitudinally movable guiding member 8 and the transverse pivotal support 11, whereby said transverse pivotal support may be located at either side of the apparatus, thus providing for the cutting of kerfs disposed either to. the right as 13, 14,15 (Fig. 9), or to the left as 16, 17, 18 (Fig. 9).

For other purposes, the transverse pivotal support may be located at any desired angle, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Any suitable locking. means, such for example as the pin 12 may be provided to hold the turntable 12 in any desired relation to the longitudinally movable guiding member 8. Any suitable locking means, such for example as the pin 9 may be provided to hold the turn table 9 in the desired relation to the pivoted support 19 during longitudinal feeding movement of the machine. While the angle of the pivoted support 19 may be adjusted in any othcrsuitable manner, I prefer to provide a manually operable train of gears co! operating with s crew mechanlsm and to this end I have shown hand wheel 20 on a shaft 21, having keyed thereto a pinion 22 which meshes with a gear 23 co-axial and rotatable with a bevelled pinion 2 1 which'meshes with a bevel gear 25, to which may be attached by a universal @joint 26 the female threaded Sleeve 27 surrounding the correspondingly threaded screw 28 universally pivoted to a bracket 29 secured to the tilting support 19. It is thus clear that manual turning of the handwheel 20 will cause the tilting support 19 to be raised or lowered as desired.

The foregoing apparatus is thus provided with one form of means permitting the positioning of the orbitally movable cutting devices along different elements of the surface with the entry to be driven. The initial cut 7 may be horizontal, as the kerf'SO (Fig. 9),-

which may be and preferably is cut by holding the cutter bar 2 at a fixed angle relative to the axis ofthe' entry and advancing the machine either relative to or with the truck until the cutter bar attains the position shown at 31 in Fig, 7, after which the cutter bar 2 is swung through an arc to the position shown at 32 in Fig. 7 when the machineis' again angularly fixed and retracted to'com-f plete the kerf 30. Assuming the transverse pivot 11 of the swinging support 19 to be aligned with the line of advance of the machine and at the right thereof as in Fig 8,

the machine may then be adjusted by tiltingof thetilting support 19 to repeat the'kerf cutting operation in cutting the kerfs18, 17, 16 or any'desired number of similar kerfs, depending on the thicknessfof the vein, the

natureofthe'coal, and the'like- If desired,

the turntable 12 may then be swung to align the transverse pivot 11 on the oppositeside of the machine, thereby permitting ker-fs 13, 14 and 15 (Fig. 9) to be cut. The coal being thus traversed by such a large number of kerfs will either fall down or be easily removable without'the use'of an explosive agent or with only a minimum amount of shooting. 7

Where desired, Lmay dispense with the Wheeled truck, thereby enabling the horizontal kerf 30 to be made nearer the fioorof the mine. 1 I l/Vhile for the purposes ofillustration I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that the same is not limited to the constructional details and parts'or' their rel ative arrangement herein specifically indicated, but that extensive deviationsmay be made from the described embodiment,"withlllt out departing from the spirit of the inven tion, and that many features herein" described in combination may be usefully employed independently, or in other connections than in i type of machine.

Wily invention and the relations they occupy in the 'described i what I nast tains Patent to secure is best defined int-the follow-" ing claims.-

I claim J V 1. The combination with a mining machine adap'te'd to slide upon its own bottom upon mine'bottom durmg cutting, of means for supporting. the machine out of' contact with the mine bottom and with a different surface nearest to the mine bottom for cutting in a substantially vertical plane, sald machine being movable longitudinally relative to said means during cutting- 2. The combination with a 'mining ma-. chine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cutting and provided with a cutter bar, of means for supporting said machine during cutting in positions wherein said bar will be substantially parallel to horizontal or vertical planes.

3. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cutting and provided with acutter bar, of means for supporting said machine during cutting in positions wherein said bar will be parallel to a single inclined plane.

4. The. combination with a mining ma chine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cutting and provided with a cutter bar, of means for supporting said machine during cutting in difierent positions, said bar in each of a plurality of said positions being adapted to be parallel to a single one of a plurality of diflerently inclined planes.

'5. The combination with a mining machine adapted toslide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cutting and provided with a cutter bar, of means for supporting said machine during cutting in positions wherein said bar will be parallel to horizontal, vertical or inclined planes.

6. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a minebottom during cutting and having a cutter bar fixedly projecting therefrom in alinement with the major dimension thereof, of means for supporting said machine during cutting whereby'said bar may cutan opening larger than itself in a substantially vertical plane.

-7. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom and having a cutter bar projecting fixedly therefrom in alinement with the major dimension thereof, of means for angularly supporting said machine during cutting whereby the same may cut in a plane inclined to the horizontal.

8. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon amine bottom during cutting and having a-cutter bar projecting therefrom, of supporting means therefor including a horizontal guideway, a carriage slidable longi tudinally thereof,.and a platform to which said mining machine is secured pivotally mounted wlth respect to said carriage for angular movement about a horizontal axis.

9. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a m1ne bottom during cutting and having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, of supporting means therefor including a horizontal guldeway, a carriage slidable longitudinally thereof, and a platformtowhich said mining machine is secured pivotally mounted with respect to said carriage for angular movement about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis. a

10. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cutting and having a cutter bar projecting therefrom, of supporting means therefor including a horizontal guideway, a carriageslidable longitudinally thereof, a platform to which said mining machine is secured pivotally mounted with respect to said carriage for angular movement about a horizontal axis, and means between the mining machine and platform permitting swinging movement of the machine upon an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platform.

11. The combination with a mining machine adapted to slide upon its bottom upon a mine bottom during cuttin and. having a cutterbar projecting therefrom, of supporting means therefor including a horizontal guideway, a carriage slidable longitudinally thereof, a platform to whichsaid mining machine is secured'pivotally mounted with respect to said carriage for angular movement about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis, and means'between the mining machine and platform permitting swinging movement of the machine upon an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platform. 12. In a mining apparatus, in combination, a machine comprising a base movable longitudinally during cutting,'a support mountedon said base and horizontally pivoted thereto by a hinge the axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal movement of said base during cutting, said support being'movable about the hinge axis into substantially horizontal and vertical positions, and self-contained cutting mechanism comprising a cutter bar which carries cutting elements orbitally movable relative thereto, said mechanism being pivoted to said support topermit bar swing in substantially the 'planethereof 13. In a m ning apparatus in combination,'a machine comprlsing a base movable longitudinally during cutting, a; support 'mounted' on said base grind-horizontally pivoted thereto by a hinge the axis'of which is parallel to the longitudinal movement of said base during cutting, said support being movable about the hinge axis into substantially horizontal and vertical positions, and cutting mechanism comprising a cutter bar carrying cutting elements orbitally movable relative thereto, said mechanism being pivoted to said support to swingin substantially the plane thereof to position the bar 'in extreme cutting-positions at opposite sides of aline parallel to the hinge line and said support hinge being disposedat one edge of said base.

14.,In a mining apparatus, in combination, a machine comprising a base movable longitudinally during cutting, a support mounted on said base and hinged thereto for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the direction of the longitudinal movement of the base during cutting into a substantially vertical position, and cutting mechanism comprising a cutterbar having cutting elements orbitally movable thereon, said mechanism being pivotally mounted on said support to swing in planes closely adj acent and parallel to said pivot, said axis being disposed at one edge of said base and said bar being disposable wholly above said hinge line when said support is in substantially vertical position to cut in such disposition.

15. In a mining apparatus, in combination, a machine comprising a base movable longitudinally during cutting, a support mounted on said base and hinged thereto for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the direction of longitudinal movement of said base during cutting to allow a substantially vertical cutto be made, and cutting mechanism comprising a cutter bar carrying cutting elements orbitally movable relative thereto, and pivotally mounted on said support for swinging movement in sub stantially the plane of the latter and operative to cut kerfs extending above and below the plane of said horizontal axis, said axis being disposed at one edge of said base.

16. In a mining apparatus, in combination, a machine comprising a base mova le longitudinally during cutting, a support mounted on said base and horizontally pivoted thereto by a hinge the axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal movement of said base. during cutting to allow a substantially vertical cut to be made, and cutting mechanism comprising a cutter bar carrying cutting elements orbitally movable relative thereto, said mechanism being pivoted to said support to swing in substantially the plane thereof, said bar when horizontally disposed lying wholly above said horizontal. axis and being operative to cut its way into the coal when advanced bodily in'such position, saidaxis being disposed at one edge of.

said base. I,

17. In a mining apparatus, in combination, a machine comprising a sub-base, a base pivoted for rotation about a vertical pivot on said sub-base, said sub-base and base being movable longitudinally during cutting, a support mounted on said base and horizontally pivoted thereto by a hinge the axis of-which is parallel to the longitudinal movement of said base during cutting, and cutting'mechanism comprising a cutter bar horizontal.

carrying orbitally moving cutting elements pivoted to said supportto-swing insubstantially the plane thereof, said'support'hinge being disposed at one edge of'said'base and said base being'pivotable uponits vertical axis to dispose said hinge at either side of said machine. V a

18. A mining machine comprising cutting mechanism, means whereby the same maybe out, said planes substantially including. said axis during the cutting operation 19. A mining machine comprising-cutting mechanism including a cutter bar and orbitally moving cutting means thereon operative to cut along the entire length of. thebar, 99 means whereby said cutting mechanism may I be fed forward, meansvto guide it in its feeding movement, means to transport said cutting mechanism bodily to difierent positions about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of feed-and disposedin'a plane parallel to the plane of the bar, but outside the lines of projection of the'edges of the bar on such plane, one of said positions being substantially vertical, means whereby said cutter bar may. be swept when in each of said positions through an are lying in a plans including a line substantially coincident with said axis during cutting operation, and means to turn said mechanism in planes parallel to said axis.

20. The combination'with a mining. ma chine adapted to slide upon its bottom'upon a mine bottom during'cutting and provided with a cutter bar, of means for supporting said machine during cutting in positions" wherein said bar may cut, kerfs in planes intersecting each other at an angle of ninety degrees along a line perpendicular to a working face. 1

21. The combination with chine adapted to g a mining SllClG'llPOIl its own bottom ona mine bottom during cutting :indhav ing a cutterfba-r, of means for. supporting 531d machine for cutting in a substantially "1201 vertical plane with the cutterybar'thereof disposed'at an acute angleto andabove the.

22. In a mining apparatus, a support, cutting mechanism, a rotatable feed operating member, and means forsupporting saidcutting mechanism and said feed operating member 'on said supportpermitting changeof plane of said cutting mechanism between substantially horizontal and vertical positions, said feed operating member being so related to said cutting mechanism that change of plane of the latter is accompanied by movement of the feed operating member bringing the axis of rotation'of the latter into a line parallel to a line making an angle with the original axis of rotation of said feed operating member.

23. In a mining apparatus, a support, cutting mechanism, a rotatable feed operating member, and means for supporting said cutting mechanism and said feed operating member on said support permitting change of plane of said cutting mechanism by movement about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis between substantially horizontal and vertical positions, said feed operating member being so related to said cutting mechanism, that change of plane of the latter is accompanied by movement of the feed operating member bringing the axis of rotation of the latter into a line parallel to a line making'an angle with the original axis of rotation of said feed operating member,

i 24. In a mining apparatus, a support, pivoted cutting mechanism mounted thereon and adjustable relative thereto to swing in substantially horizontal and vertical planes, and means for feeding said cutting mechanism including a feed operating member rotatable on an axis which bears a constant relation to the plane of cut irrespective of changes in the latter.

25. In a mining apparatus, a support, pivoted cutting mechanism mounted thereon and adjustable relative thereto to swing in substantially horizontal and vertical planes, and means for feeding said cutting mechanism including a feed operating member rotatable on an axis which is constantly perpendicular to the plane of cut irrespective of changes in the latter.

26. A mining machine of the cutter chain type including a chain with bits thereon and a chain guiding cutter bar pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, said bits cutting a kerf of a size to receive said bar, means for swinging said bar in a vertical plane, and guiding means for said mining machine along and between the ends of which said machine is rectilinearly reciprocable during cutting.

27. A mining machine of the cutter chain type including a chain with bits thereon and a chain guiding cutter bar pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis adjacent the front end of the machine, said bits cutting a kerf of a size to receive said bar, means for swinging said bar in a vertical plane, and guiding means for said mining machine along and between the ends of which said machine is rectilinearly reciprocable during cutting.

28. A mining machine of the cutter chain type including a chain with bits thereon and a chain guiding cutter bar pivotally mounted on a substantially horizontal axis, said bits cutting a kerf of a size to receive said bar, and said machine being of a type adapted to slide over a mine bottom while supported upon a surface parallel to the plane of the chain orbit, means for swinging said bar in a vertical plane, and guiding means for said mining machine along and between the ends of which said machine is rectilinearly reciprocable with said surface in a substantially vertical plane during cutting. 1

29. In a mining machine, cutting mechanism including a cutter bar swingable in a vertical plane and having a circulating cutter chain thereon, supporting means for said bar, means carried by said supporting means for efi'ecting swing of the bar in a vertical plane, guiding means for' said support,-

means for feeding said cutting mechanism and support along said guiding means including a rotatable element traveling with said cutting mechanism, and means for per Initting rotation of said support about a vertical axis.

30. In a mining apparatus, a support, a

plane cutter bar provided with a cutter chain circulating around its periphery, and supporting means for said bar whereby the same is mounted on said support permitting said bar to be swung in a horizontal plane, in a substantially vertical plane and in an oblique plane lying in the angle between the horizontal and vertical planes, the kerf cut during swing of the bar in the oblique plane intersecting the zone of intersection of the horizontal kerf and the substantially vertical kerf.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PRESTON UPHAM. 

